Imagine the whole universe beginning to sing and resound. These are no longer human voices, but coursing planets and suns.​

- Gustav Mahler

In Mahler’s Eighth Symphony the singing almost never stops in its celebration of the Creative Spirit and the redemptive power of love.

We’re setting our sights on a “symphony of a thousand” – literally! – with a thousand singers in the choir as well as eight renowned Australian soloists, a children’s chorus and an orchestra of more than a hundred.

Whether you’re in the audience or part of the thousand-voice choir on stage, the program promises to be an unforgettable and life-changing experience.

MAHLER Symphony No. 8
“Symphony of a Thousand”

ARTISTS

Maija Kovalevska soprano
Anna-Louise Cole soprano
Deborah Humble mezzo-soprano
Diego Torre tenor
Jud Arthur bass
ChorusOz 2023
Children’s Chorus
The Sydney Youth Orchestra
with members of Sydney Philharmonia Orchestra

Brett Weymark OAM

Brett Weymark OAM is one of Australia’s foremost choral conductors. Since 2003 Brett Weymark has conducted the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs throughout Australia and internationally. He has also conducted the Sydney, Adelaide, Queensland, West Australian and Tasmanian symphony orchestras, Orchestra of the Antipodes, Sydney Youth Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic and productions for WAAPA, Pacific Opera and OzOpera. He has performed with Opera Australia, Pinchgut Opera, Australian Chamber Orchestra, The Song Company and Musica Viva.

He studied singing and conducting at Sydney University and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and continued conducting studies with Simon Halsey, Vance George, Daniel Barenboim and Sir John Eliot Gardiner, amongst others.

His performances have included Bach’s Passions and Christmas Oratorio, the requiems of Mozart, Verdi, Duruflé and Fauré and Orff’s Carmina Burana. He is champion of Australian composers and has premiered works by Matthew Hindson, Elena Kats-Chernin, Peter Sculthorpe, Ross Edwards and many others. He has prepared choirs for Sir Charles Mackerras, Zubin Mehta, Edo de Waart, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Sir Simon Rattle. He has recorded widely for the ABC and conducted film scores, including Happy Feet, Mad Max Fury Road and Australia.

Recent highlight performances include Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd (West Australian Opera), Paul Stanhope’s Jandamarra (SSO), Michael Tippett’s A Child Of Our Time (Adelaide Festival) and Carousel (Adelaide State Opera).

In 2001, Brett was awarded an Australian Centenary Medal. In 2021, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the performing arts through music.

Brett is passionate about singing and the role that music plays in both the individual’s wellbeing and the overall health and vitality of a community’s culture. Music can transform lives and should be accessible to all.

ChorusOz – Sydney Philharmonia Choirs’ annual “big sing” – brings together a community of singers from across Australia and around the world for an exhilarating weekend of intensive music-making in the Sydney Opera House.

We’re setting our sights on a “symphony of a thousand” – literally! – with a thousand singers in the choir. ChoruzOz will be joined by eight renowned Australian soloists, a children’s chorus and Sydney Youth Orchestras, and you’re invited to join us.

In Mahler’s Eighth Symphony the singing almost never stops in its celebration of the Creative Spirit and the redemptive power of love. Whether you’re in the audience or part of the thousand-voice choir on stage, ChorusOz 2023 promises to be an unforgettable and life-changing experience.

For more information and registration details click here.